By Takara Small

Forget about Rihanna. Toronto based Shalli is poised to take the crown as the new “Princess of Island Pop”. With her latest single, Feeling Inside, creating buzz and a video for a French single, Je Te Donne L’Amour, on its way, Sway sat down with the tropical talent to dish on life and lyrics.

Sway: How did you get your start in the music business?

Shalli: I always loved music. I sang in choirs and in groups when I was young, but I didn’t approach music as a full-time job until later in life. My father was in a band and played the steel pan for years. I grew up going to gigs with him and realized that if I really put in a lot of effort, I could be good at it.

For me, music is the only thing where I feel like even when I’m tired or sick I can still get up and work, because I love it.

Was there a turning point in your life that shaped how you understand and create music?

Yes, my trip to Thailand when the tsunami hit. In 2004, I left home to sing in hotels and at festivals around the world; and while in Thailand, the storm hit. The band and I were stuck in a three-storey building with water coming in everywhere. We didn’t know what was going to happen to us.

Afterwards, I felt like I’d lived through the experience for a reason and needed to work hard doing what I love. I now feel blessed at the end of every day and that forces me to be better all the time.

Let’s talk about your latest single, Feeling Inside.

I love this song because it’s a playful single. There’s a lot of sexual content but it is all tongue-in-cheek. I’m talking about how I’m happy because my man treats me how I’m supposed to be treated. The other girls in the video for the song are wondering what my man’s recipe is. But it’s not about chasing that man. It’s all about shining your own light so that the perfect man will come to you. That’s what love should be like.

To learn more about Shalli’s upcoming shows and music, visit myspace.com/shallisings

Related Articles:

• No Related Articles currently available...